On-Duty Trysts at the Station: Hyogo Police Officers Disciplined for Inappropriate Conduct

On October 11, the Hyogo Prefectural Police announced disciplinary action against two officers assigned to the community safety division at a police station in the Seiban region: a male senior police officer and a female officer, both in their twenties. The pair received a 10% salary cut for three months after it was revealed they had engaged in sexual intercourse inside the police station and in personal vehicles during work hours. The report quickly went viral across social media, drawing fierce public backlash and disbelief.

According to reports, the male senior officer is married and had been involved in an extramarital affair with the female officer. Although he initially reported the relationship to his superiors after his wife discovered the affair, investigators found that the two continued their physical relationship even after the reprimand. The encounters reportedly took place during night shifts and regular working hours—times when officers are expected to be fully dedicated to their duties—inside station offices, meeting rooms, and their own private cars. Outraged netizens vented their frustration online, leaving comments such as, “What on earth were they doing while on duty?” “Is this what taxpayer money is spent on?” and “They completely lack any sense of professional awareness as civil servants.”

Other online reactions took a more cynical tone, with some remarking that the situation sounded like an adult film plot or lamenting, “Another Hyogo Police scandal?” Critics voiced concern over declining discipline within the police force and condemned what many perceived as overly lenient disciplinary measures. Even though the prefectural police stated that the misconduct did not directly hinder daily operations, public outcry has mounted over what many view as a severe dereliction of duty that betrays public trust, sparking widespread calls for strict organizational governance and robust measures to prevent recurrence.

The Context

In Japan, police officers are regarded as civil servants tasked with upholding the highest standards of ethics and public trust, and instances of misconduct tend to face intense public and media scrutiny. Prefectural police departments possess their own internal disciplinary codes, where punishments range from verbal warnings and official reprimands to salary reductions, suspensions, and dismissal. Hyogo Prefectural Police, which oversees security in a large prefecture that includes the city of Kobe, has faced several embarrassing organizational scandals in recent years, leaving the local public increasingly sensitive and critical toward lapses in internal discipline and governance within the force.